Nigeria signs EU readmission deal for irregular migrants

Nigeria has signed a readmission agreement with the European Union that will facilitate the return of Nigerians living illegally in EU member states. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the deal on Wednesday, ending negotiations that have run for nearly a decade.

The agreement was signed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu and EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner. It covers Nigerians with no legal grounds to remain in EU countries.

What the deal covers

The ministry said about 260,000 Nigerians legally reside in the bloc. An IOM report also recorded 27,234 irregular arrivals of Nigerian nationals in Europe between 2017 and March 2024. The new pact would facilitate return of those without legal grounds to remain.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the agreement "underscored Nigeria's commitment to the welfare, well-being and dignified return of its citizens." She expressed confidence that it would serve as a catalyst for enhanced cooperation between Nigeria and the EU in education, capacity-building and vocational training.

Brunner, Tunji-Ojo outline priorities

Brunner described the conclusion of negotiations as an important development in Nigeria-EU relations. He said it could provide a foundation for cooperation in other areas. He named police cooperation, the fight against human trafficking and migrant smuggling, and the development of legal migration pathways as areas requiring sustained engagement.

The statement said the Readmission Agreement "is an important instrument that formalizes migration cooperation between the EU and Nigeria, clearly outlining the reciprocal obligations of both parties to the safety, dignity and human rights of their citizens during readmission processes."

Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said a key objective is to promote a legal and mutually beneficial migration management system. He said the federal government is modernising migration and border management systems through automation and integrating national identity databases. This, he said, would help authorities verify the nationality of persons being returned more quickly and accurately.

Three categories of returnees

Tunji-Ojo identified three categories of persons who could be subject to readmission: Nigerians with valid travel documents; those who travelled with documents but later lost or destroyed them; and those who travelled without identification.

The agreement formalises migration cooperation at a time when Europe is tightening rules on irregular entry. For Nigeria, the deal puts nationality verification and border data systems at the centre of any return process.